Harbor Freight Miter Saw Review: Hercules and Other Brands
Contents
- My Top Harbor Freight Miter Saw Are:
- 1. Hercules 12″ Double-Bevel Sliding Compound Miter Saw : Top Choice
- 2. Chicago Electric 12-Inch Miter Saw With Laser Guide : Best Beginner Model
- 3. Chicago Electric 10-Inch Sliding Compound Miter Saw
- 4. Chicago Electric 12-Inch Double-Bevel Sliding Compound Miter Saw
- About the Harbor Freight
- Final Thoughts
- Sources
Are you in the market for a new miter saw on a budget? Ordinarily, I’d recommend spending a bit more on a high-quality model when it comes to woodworking equipment.
That said, Harbor Freight sells miter saws at three levels: Chicago Electric (entry level), Admiral and Hercules (professional). This review looks at how its Hercules and Chicago Electric saws compare with brands like DeWalt.
OUR TOP PICK
Our top pick is the Hercules 12″ Miter Saw.
My Top Harbor Freight Miter Saw Are:
| Product | Details | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Hercules 12" Double-Bevel Sliding Compound Miter Saw | 1. Hercules 12 Top Pick | - Cuts 7 ½-inch nested crown molding and 6 ¾-inch vertical baseboard - Precision guide for the blade - 15 AMP, 4,100 rpm motor - Adjustable miter detent plate adjustable with ten stops | Check Current Price |
| 2. Chicago Electric 12-Inch Miter Saw With Laser Guide | 2. Chicago Electric 12-Inch Miter Saw With Laser Guide | - 15-amp motor - 12-inch blade - Makes miter, bevel, and cross cuts - Slide rails allow the saw to move smoothly - Bevel at a 45° angle in either direction | Check Current Price |
| 3. Chicago Electric 10-Inch Sliding Compound Miter Saw | 3. Chicago Electric 10-Inch Sliding Compound Miter Saw | - 12-amp motor - Makes miter, bevel, and cross cuts - Bevels at a 45° angle to the left or right - Has rails to make precision cuts - Brushes are easy to access | Check Current Price |
| 4. Chicago Electric 12-Inch Double-Bevel Sliding Compound Miter Saw | 4. Chicago Electric 12-Inch Double-Bevel Sliding Compound Miter Saw | - 15-amp motor - Has linear slide rails to improve stability - Aluminum fence - Extension bars - Table clamp | Check Current Price |
1. Hercules 12″ Double-Bevel Sliding Compound Miter Saw : Top Choice
The Hercules dual-bevel design is aimed at the same professional users as DeWalt’s 12-inch sliding saws, at a lower price. Let’s see how it measures up.
Specs
- Cuts 7 ½-inch crown molding nested
- Cuts 6 ¾-inch baseboard standing vertically
- LED shadow guide for the cut line
- 15 AMP, 4,100 rpm motor
- Stainless steel miter detent plate with ten positive stops
- Includes a 12-inch, 60-tooth carbide blade
- Bevel scale oversized for accurate adjustments
- Double-bevel design used
What I Like About This Product
The Hercules is a professional-grade saw at a reasonable price. Thanks to the clear markings and the LED shadow line, it’s easy to position your wood correctly.
The adjustable miter plate makes it simple to set the wood and keep it in the right spot.
What I don’t like about this product
At 56 pounds, according to Harbor Freight’s Hercules listing, it’s cumbersome to lug around. That’s an essential consideration if you work on job sites.
Pros
- LED shadow line shows exactly where the blade will cut
- Price is right
- Professional-grade build
- Adjustable detent plate with ten stops
- Blade included
Cons
- Heavy and cumbersome
- Requires a lot of space
In summary, my Hercules Miter Saw review is that you’re getting Herculean value for money with this product.
Overall Rating – 4 ½ out of 5
2. Chicago Electric 12-Inch Miter Saw With Laser Guide : Best Beginner Model
This budget-friendly model costs much less than the Hercules, so it’s a good option for hobbyists or woodworkers on a tight budget.
Note that Harbor Freight’s current Chicago Electric miter saw lineup lists only 10-inch models, so the 12-inch Chicago Electric saws in this review may be hard to find new.
Specs
- 15-amp motor
- 12-inch blade
- Makes miter, bevel, and cross cuts
- Slide rails allow the saw to move smoothly
- Bevel at a 45° angle in either direction
- Laser guidance system
- Weighs 52 pounds
What I like about this product
There are one or two adjustments you’ll want to make out of the box, but these are easy. Have a look at this video to learn about some useful adjustments.
The laser guidance makes it easier to line up accurate cuts.
What I don’t like about this product
Its crosscut capacity is about 12 inches, while many 12-inch sliding saws from other brands cut 13 to 14 inches. Check whether a blade is included with the unit you buy.
Pros
- Good value for money
- Priced a lot lower than competitors
- Powerful 15-amp motor
- Laser guidance helps
Cons
- Only cuts up to 12-inch boards
- Not suitable for high crown molding
Is it the last miter saw you’ll ever need? No, and it’s probably not going to be useful for an advanced woodworker. For the beginner, though, it’s perfect.
Overall Rating – 4 out of 5
3. Chicago Electric 10-Inch Sliding Compound Miter Saw
This 10-inch saw is the previous model’s younger brother. It’s a sliding compound miter saw that comes in at a very favorable price.
Specs
- 12-amp motor
- Makes miter, bevel, and cross cuts
- Bevels at a 45° angle to the left or right
- Has rails to make precision cuts
- Brushes are easy to access
- Dust collection bag
- Weighs 30.4 pounds
What I like about this product
As a lightweight model, the Chicago is suited to the home hobbyist on a very tight budget. The clamp is nice, although laser sighting would’ve been more useful.
It doesn’t have all the features that a DeWalt has, but it costs far less.
What I don’t like about this product
The 10-inch blade limits crosscut and depth capacity compared with the 12-inch Chicago Electric models, and there’s no laser sighting.
Pros
- Great price
- Dust bag included
- Beveling options are convenient
- Has a table clamp
- Weighs just 30.4 pounds
Cons
- Lack of versatility
- No laser guidance
Overall, this is a good model for the occasional hobbyist. You have to be careful not to overwork it, or it might overheat. On the upside, at 30.4 pounds, this is the most portable model on the list.
Overall Rating – 3 ½
4. Chicago Electric 12-Inch Double-Bevel Sliding Compound Miter Saw
To round off our Harbor Freight reviews, we’ll have a look at this 12-inch model. I’m giving this the best budget option title.
Specs
- 15-amp motor
- Has linear slide rails to improve stability
- Aluminum fence
- Extension bars
- Table clamp
- Storage hooks
- Laser guide
- Dust bag
What I like about this product
You’re getting a lot of value for money here, since it costs far less than a DeWalt with comparable features. I like the thoughtful extras included here, like the dust bag and storage hooks.
What I don’t like about this product
Check the blade guard screw before first use, since it can come loose during shipping. If the blade wobbles, unplug the saw and check that the blade and arbor flanges are seated and tight before you cut.
If you’re looking for a portable option, this is not it. It’s a heavy saw, best left on a bench or stand.
Pros
- Powerful
- Dual beveling possible
- Reasonably priced
- Comes with useful accessories
- Extension bars extend the support range
Cons
- Very heavy
- Not as compact as possible
So for this Harbor Freight 12″ sliding compound miter saw review I’d say you’re getting good value here. This certainly classifies as my best budget buy. I do think it could stand to lose a bit of weight, but for a stationary carpenter, that shouldn’t be a problem.
Overall Rating – 4 out of 5
About the Harbor Freight
Harbor Freight Tools is an American retailer known for low-priced tools sold under its own in-house brands.
Harbor Freight’s chain of over a thousand stores and its online shop carry several in-house brands at different price levels. For miter saws, Harbor Freight positions Chicago Electric as entry level, Admiral as a step up and Hercules as its professional line.
Like with everything, you get what you pay for. A cheap saw is fine for occasional projects, but it won’t hold up like a professional model.
They do sell some pretty good quality power tools at surprisingly low prices. Just keep in mind that you may need to perform some adjustments when they arrive.
With budget saws, it’s not uncommon for the guard screw to need tightening out of the box. Check that the guard works and that the fence and bevel stops are square before your first cut.
Also check that all the parts are included when your saw arrives.
Final Thoughts
For these reviews, I highlighted the four top miter saws available from Harbor Freight. In the end, the Harbor Freight Hercules Miter Saw came out as the clear winner. It’s the most expensive of those reviewed, but it costs far less than comparable professional brands.
It shows that you don’t always need the most expensive brand to get a capable 12-inch sliding miter saw.
Sources
- HERCULES 12 in. Dual-Bevel Sliding Compound Miter Saw (56682), Harbor Freight
- Are Harbor Freight Miter Saws Good Quality?, Harbor Freight
- Hercules HE74 Owner's Manual, Harbor Freight
